Expedition: Fingers/Ghostly Trial - Part II - 23 July 2021

[Marullus]

Actions?

[Zhym]

Fingers decides to try one more communication with the ghost before she leaves. He looks up the part of Markd's book where the Necromancer comes into things. Then he looks for a passage in any book where someone asks for an explanation, and another where someone offers assistance. The gist, he hopes, is, "What the hell happened here, and can we do anything to help?" He hands Hengist a parchment and quill to hand to Agheth so she can answer. Again, Fingers lets Hengist do the "talking."

[DavetheLost]

Hengist offers the book, indicating the proper passage, then offers the quill and parchment for a response. He indicates that Agheth should write on the parchment and that he will then pass it to Fingers.

Charisma vs 13 [3d6] = 10

[onlyme]

Hengist offers the book, indicating the proper passage, then offers the quill and parchment for a response. He indicates that Agheth should write on the parchment and that he will then pass it to Fingers.

Charisma vs 13 [3d6] = 10

we learned last adventure she cant write. I think she could only point or motion when we asked where the white tower was. I'll try to find the exact post to confirm.

[Zhym]

Well, that's inconvenient. If she can't write, I guess we just let her go on her not-so-merry way.

[Marullus]

Hengist produces the books and passages, correctly conveying that you wish to know the reason for their current state, how the necromancer figures in, and how you can help. She clasps her hands to show she protests her innocence. She then indicates the barricade, and for you to follow her, if you wish an explanation.

When you produce Markd's book -- Cardinal Cathelon's life opus -- she looks curiously at it. She points at herself, then at the book, and motions pages flipping as if it is a request. Yes, it does appear that the ghost (having no solid fingers) is unable to pick up the quill or flip pages on her own.

(Complex action: Two paths forward. Which do you pursue?)

Date: 8:30pm, 24 July 2021
Light: Campfire
Effects:
Injuries: Markd (superficial wounds)

[Zhym]

Let's flip pages, then follow her.

[Marullus]

...what do you flip to and show her? (remember that going through the book in order is a week-long process.)

[Zhym]

Oh, I guess she has no way to tell us which page she wants us to flip to, does she? Or is she saying she wants to read the whole thing? If she wants to read a specific section, we can open it in the middle, point to each section to see which way she wants to go, etc. A binary search won't take long. If she wants to read the whole thing—well, we don't have a week.

[Alethan]

"Start with the sections that pertain to her," Bandy whispers to Fingers as he opens the book.

[Marullus]

As the pantomiming becomes frustrated, she speaks in her own tongue. Only Markd understands as she says with dismay to herself, "Strange ones these, and fortuitous, coming with Cathalon's own writings. He must have known my innocence... did he ever confess it? He must know, though his shade denies it for eternity and holds us in thrall to eternal trial..."

Date: 9:00pm, 24 July 2021
Light: Campfire
Effects:
Injuries: Markd (superficial wounds)

[Zhym]

(Assuming Markd translates), Fingers quickly confers with Markd. "Caethelon was all torn up about the trial when he wrote this, right? Do you think you could find the parts of the book where he says so?"

If the book does contain proof of her innocence, it might make a really nice gift if Markd is willing to part with it.

[onlyme]

Markd attempts to quickly find the pages that dealt with the cardinal's regret over the trial, though not sure how much to show her beyond a few sound bites.

I think he probably knew it was a scam trial versus whether she was or wasnt innocent.

[Marullus]

Upon seeing the section where Cathelon expresses his grief over Agheth's trial, the ghost of Agheth is filled with a mix of uncontrollable emotion - a combination of grief and rage. She begins gesticulating to the barricade, pointing to you and pantomiming carrying the book.

Fingers sees that the text admits that he suspected the evidence was falsified against her, but ignored it, as her birth was too low to have been made queen in the first place and divided the kingdom. The king needed a more advantageous marriage and marrying for love was an error that required correcting for the sake of the realm.

It is in his final, later years that you find the true epitaph. He clears his conscience, writing that he long knew that Aslyn's testimony was magically fabricated and Vond's testimony was a convincing lie, paid by Aslyn in his jealous anger. "Beauty alone does not make a queen; in my hubris, I thought a better alliance could be struck," he writes. He goes on to say that his anger at himself for going along with Aslyn's portrayal fueled his crusade against magic... he feels responsible for the coming necromancers, but doesn't say why. His remorse came as he outlived the king, who died with no queen and no heirs in battle against the coming necromancers... writing as an old, dying man, he blames himself for the end of the dynasty.


Markd hears her wail, "He knew! He knew! The evidence must come to the trial!"

Date: 9:10pm, 24 July 2021
Light: Campfire
Effects:
Injuries: Markd (superficial wounds)

[Zhym]

"This is about to get really interesting," says Fingers. "But I think we should do as she asks and take the book to the trial. Respectfully and stuff. Hengist, you wanna do the talking with all those lawful types in the trial room?"

[Alethan]

"This could get interesting," Bandy mutters to himself, recalling that only he could understand... was that dark brooding man the brother Danorr?

[onlyme]

Markd allows the cleric to borrow the book to take to the court. He wonders if the ghost of the cardinal will care that he now possesses the staff.

(though, in general meta game terms, would the specter (or whatever) that was in the cardinals' room be related to the cardinal if the ghost is also presiding over the trial?)

[Alethan]

Bandy begins taking down the barricade so they can exit the crypt...

[Zhym]

Fingers helps remove the barricade. "When we get in there, make sure your weapons are stashed and let Agheth talk first. They hate interruptions, and this'll be a big'un."

[Marullus]

(though, in general meta game terms, would the specter (or whatever) that was in the cardinals' room be related to the cardinal if the ghost is also presiding over the trial?)

The spectre in the tower was a sworn protector of the Cardinal who guarded the door to his room. There was no ghost in Cathelon's room.